[Challenge] Why is "because X phone won't work with Gear Manager" acceptable?
I find this hard to believe and a slightly lazy answer to a common problem. There is obviously code in the APK that refuses to work on any non-Samsung device. Dozens of threads exist with people offering up the entire Gear APK catalog, some trying to get it to work on Nexus & and others.
fOmey and others have reverse engineered the entire ROM, but no one has figured out a way to "fix" one single app to allow it to work with all phones?
Is this not a work-in-progress somewhere? It's certainly not in any thread I have found.
What are the limitations to such a venture? Has it been tried? Is there a copyright issue? What reason has this not been attempted?
Our community has done some amazing things over the years and this site is the go-to place for rooting and hacking. There has to be one sole out there willing to give this a shot.
I am, by no means, a programmer or coder. I would take this up, but I do not have the skillset. Best I can do is go through XML files and the like hoping to find "if X=Z then A" and remove it.
Ultimately this would give us the missing companion to null_ that allows notifications and interactivity (i.e. Music player controls, etc)
So-- any takers?
I have a Nexus 5, even with the app fully running, I can only get the phone call part to work - talk/listen/incoming caller contact name
The way to get around unsupported device is with the GearManagerStub apk
I've had a bit of a search through most of the code, and from what I can tell all the apks are included so can only conclude there must be something in tw framework. Or I missed something...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2549058
Brendo said:
even with the app fully running, I can only get the phone call part to work - talk/listen/incoming caller contact name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not helped by the app. I have mine tethered to an iPhone 3gs(not by choice) and it works fine with no software at all.
styz said:
This is not helped by the app. I have mine tethered to an iPhone 3gs(not by choice) and it works fine with no software at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To load the gear manager app, it is.. You simply connected your gear via bluetooth.
The gear manager app pushes notifications to the gear.
Without the GearManagerStub.apk it fails to load, its depends on this particular app.
It's pretty simple actually - and the same reason Sense doesn't run (well) on non-HTC devices. Samsung's got a huge proprietary framework on their phones that their proprietary apps expect to be in place and depend on. So plopping Gear Manager on a phone that doesn't have the expected underlying s/w causes it to fail or deliver bits and pieces of functionality. Someone could probably figure out which pieces of Samsung's framework need to be in place but if there are a ton of them adding useless bloat (outside the Gear functionality) wouldn't it be easier just to use the Gear with a Samsung phone? And the design point Samsung's chosen (dependency on proprietary Samsung code on the phone for the Gear to work) pretty much tells you that, at least for now, they are happy with restricting Gear sales to owners of Samsung devices. Hell, the SGS4 GPe doesn't even support the Gear.
Just a personal thought, at $299 (I know, it was 30% less at T-Mobile) the Gear's a questionable investment (AKA: a "play thing") as it is. Accepting that key features (of the few provided) are missing to get it to work on a non-Samsung phone seems like a great garage project but not a very good use of $299. Just my opinion of course.
BarryH_GEG said:
It's pretty simple actually - and the same reason Sense doesn't run (well) on non-HTC devices. Samsung's got a huge proprietary framework on their phones that their proprietary apps expect to be in place and depend on. So plopping Gear Manager on a phone that doesn't have the expected underlying s/w causes it to fail or deliver bits and pieces of functionality. Someone could probably figure out which pieces of Samsung's framework need to be in place but if there are a ton of them adding useless bloat (outside the Gear functionality) wouldn't it be easier just to use the Gear with a Samsung phone? And the design point Samsung's chosen (dependency on proprietary Samsung code on the phone for the Gear to work) pretty much tells you that, at least for now, they are happy with restricting Gear sales to owners of Samsung devices. Hell, the SGS4 GPe doesn't even support the Gear.
Just a personal thought, at $299 (I know, it was 30% less at T-Mobile) the Gear's a questionable investment (AKA: a "play thing") as it is. Accepting that key features (of the few provided) are missing to get it to work on a non-Samsung phone seems like a great garage project but not a very good use of $299. Just my opinion of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am purchasing home automation items and bluetooth adaptors for my vehicle so I don't think of this as a toy. I consider it a great step forward.
fOmey said:
...Without the GearManagerStub.apk it fails to load, its depends on this particular app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed the stub and the gearmanager apks and it still gave me a 'unsupported device' message. *sadface*
therealduckie said:
I am purchasing home automation items and bluetooth adaptors for my vehicle so I don't think of this as a toy. I consider it a great step forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Why would an underpowered device with a 315mAh battery, 512MB of RAM, and a 1.63" display be the best "tool for the job" you described? Especially when it requires a host in near-by proximity for the majority of its functions? It's great what people are doing with the Gear outside the mission Samsung released it for but, like I said before, you're talking about parlor tricks more for sport than serving a function unachievable by better means; some of which are more practical. And if you're trying to use the Gear while driving, especially if you've shrunk the DPI with a launcher, good luck. It's hard enough using the basic functions and S Voice while driving without ending up in another lane. I'm not criticizing everyone's ingenuity and cleverness just pointing out how impractical some things can appear when you take in to account what the Gear really is; a shamefully low-spec, low functionality Android "phone" with a tiny screen that happens to have a wrist band.
BarryH_GEG said:
It's pretty simple actually - and the same reason Sense doesn't run (well) on non-HTC devices. Samsung's got a huge proprietary framework on their phones that their proprietary apps expect to be in place and depend on. So plopping Gear Manager on a phone that doesn't have the expected underlying s/w causes it to fail or deliver bits and pieces of functionality. Someone could probably figure out which pieces of Samsung's framework need to be in place but if there are a ton of them adding useless bloat (outside the Gear functionality) wouldn't it be easier just to use the Gear with a Samsung phone? And the design point Samsung's chosen (dependency on proprietary Samsung code on the phone for the Gear to work) pretty much tells you that, at least for now, they are happy with restricting Gear sales to owners of Samsung devices. Hell, the SGS4 GPe doesn't even support the Gear.
Just a personal thought, at $299 (I know, it was 30% less at T-Mobile) the Gear's a questionable investment (AKA: a "play thing") as it is. Accepting that key features (of the few provided) are missing to get it to work on a non-Samsung phone seems like a great garage project but not a very good use of $299. Just my opinion of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why this is a challenge
Im intrigued.. I want to figure this out, I prefer to use AOSP. Iv been forced to go back to TouchWiz since owning a gear.
I might have to do some more digging around.
therealduckie said:
I installed the stub and the gearmanager apks and it still gave me a 'unsupported device' message. *sadface*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends how you do it? I moved the apk to system/app and then had to install it (so that it was in data/app as com.whatever as it looks for apk based on that name). May not need it in system app anymore
Which phone?
---------- Post added at 11:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 AM ----------
fOmey said:
That's why this is a challenge
Im intrigued.. I want to figure this out, I prefer to use AOSP. Iv been forced to go back to TouchWiz since owning a gear.
I might have to do some more digging around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know how much touchwiz is in google edition roms? Does gear fully work with ge roms?
Brendo said:
Depends how you do it? I moved the apk to system/app and then had to install it (so that it was in data/app as com.whatever as it looks for apk based on that name). May not need it in system app anymore
Which phone?
---------- Post added at 11:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 AM ----------
Do you know how much touchwiz is in google edition roms? Does gear fully work with ge roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly I was able to test extensively using GE, although I did find all the initial APK's installed & completed successfully.
I didn't get a chance to pair up completely, the base keeps randomly rebooting (nothing related to the gear). This could be due a modified gearmanagerstub.apk on the GE base, I'm not entirely sure.
I could easily upload a version of the stub APK, you can give it a go on your nexus ?
EDIT: GearManagerStub.apk : From KitKat Google Edition (i9505) & (Uninstall existing GearManager.apk before testing).
BarryH_GEG said:
Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Why would an underpowered device with a 315mAh battery, 512MB of RAM, and a 1.63" display be the best "tool for the job" you described? Especially when it requires a host in near-by proximity for the majority of its functions? It's great what people are doing with the Gear outside the mission Samsung released it for but, like I said before, you're talking about parlor tricks more for sport than serving a function unachievable by better means; some of which are more practical. And if you're trying to use the Gear while driving, especially if you've shrunk the DPI with a launcher, good luck. It's hard enough using the basic functions and S Voice while driving without ending up in another lane. I'm not criticizing everyone's ingenuity and cleverness just pointing out how impractical some things can appear when you take in to account what the Gear really is; a shamefully low-spec, low functionality Android "phone" with a tiny screen that happens to have a wrist band.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gear, with null_, requires no host. It can also connect to bluetooth enabled devices other than a phone.
I was motivated but this: http://daisyworks.net/btgarage.html
It's brilliant and exactly what i have needed for years.
Other interesting links:
http://www.smarthome.com/android_apps.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-Automation-using-Arduino-Android-Phone/
Fact is, this is not a toy when something like null_ is used. It offers a great deal more functionality in a much smaller and more portable/handy package.
Your bias against the device is obvious so it begs the question: why are you here? Just to raise your post count and stir drama in an otherwise peaceful sub-group? Or, do you own it and you are so disappointed that you refuse to see its potential?
Either way, your negativity will not sway me or change my mind. I know it has potential and I plan to use it fully. The fact that it has a wristband is a feature and a plus.
Oh, and I don't consider something that has multiple times the computing power of the original Apollo moon landings "low specs". <3
fOmey said:
To load the gear manager app, it is.. You simply connected your gear via bluetooth.
The gear manager app pushes notifications to the gear.
Without the GearManagerStub.apk it fails to load, its depends on this particular app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe i wasn't clear in my post. I was responding to the phone call portion of the gear. Even without the software installed it still allows the phone calls to be taken and shows the contact information on the watch just like it did on the g4s with the app. All i was saying is that he commented that he was only able to get the phone portion working with the app and i was explaining that you can do that without the app.
fOmey said:
EDIT: GearManagerStub.apk : From KitKat Google Edition (i9505) & (Uninstall existing GearManager.apk before testing).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried it. Same result. 2 gear manager apps still refuse to install - music and weather (I believe because they reply on specific apps?). Nfc setup connection still works. App still works, but no details get sent to watch. Perhaps tw framework hooks in and serves data to gearmanagerstub, then stub sends to manager, which sends to watch?
---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------
styz said:
Maybe i wasn't clear in my post. I was responding to the phone call portion of the gear. Even without the software installed it still allows the phone calls to be taken and shows the contact information on the watch just like it did on the g4s with the app. All i was saying is that he commented that he was only able to get the phone portion working with the app and i was explaining that you can do that without the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, from what I understand, the Bluetooth headset part is the only 'generic' part of the watch. It receives data just like a car headset when it displays contact info etc
Just installed that STUB with both the 1.5 and 1.2 GM and both still showed me a 'device not supported" error message.
I spent about 2 hours with Samsung one night and they told me it had to do with baseband version...or that mine was a 4.1 baseband (even though I am running CM 10.2 with 4.3 OS).
Perhaps there is a lockout on older baseband versions?
This is an SG3 phone, by the way.
therealduckie said:
Just installed that STUB with both the 1.5 and 1.2 GM and both still showed me a 'device not supported" error message.
I spent about 2 hours with Samsung one night and they told me it had to do with baseband version...or that mine was a 4.1 baseband (even though I am running CM 10.2 with 4.3 OS).
Perhaps there is a lockout on older baseband versions?
This is an SG3 phone, by the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you install? Try deleting; move to system/app; installing from system/app
Brendo said:
How did you install? Try deleting; move to system/app; installing from system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I should have been more clear...
I installed them both fine. It's when i try to pair the Gear that I get that message.
therealduckie said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear...
I installed them both fine. It's when i try to pair the Gear that I get that message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you delete the touchwiz launcher off your gear ? That will cause a unsupported device error also.. learnt this the hard way !
Brendo said:
Tried it. Same result. 2 gear manager apps still refuse to install - music and weather (I believe because they reply on specific apps?). Nfc setup connection still works. App still works, but no details get sent to watch. Perhaps tw framework hooks in and serves data to gearmanagerstub, then stub sends to manager, which sends to watch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can narrow down which two of those APK's dont install, I can try figure out why.. First step on getting this working is simply identifying what exactly is not working and why.
Once we can get gearmanager running on other branded phones, I'm confident the notifications may work.. or atleast the "more notifications".
fOmey said:
Did you delete the touchwiz launcher off your gear ? That will cause a unsupported device error also.. learnt this the hard way !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Nova Launcher as my launcher on my phone. TouchWiz doesn't even load on boot, that I am aware of.
fOmey said:
Did you delete the touchwiz launcher off your gear ? That will cause a unsupported device error also.. learnt this the hard way !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I still have tw on my gear :s
If you can narrow down which two of those APK's dont install, I can try figure out why.. First step on getting this working is simply identifying what exactly is not working and why.
Once we can get gearmanager running on other branded phones, I'm confident the notifications may work.. or atleast the "more notifications".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have to install all the extra apks manually
- SAMusicProvider_signed.apk
- SAWeatherProvider_signed.apk
Ist there some Team/Developer working on an OpenSource alternative to the official Samsung Galaxy Gear Manager? I am the programmer behind OpenFetch (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sindaccos.openfetch) which was just a test to get the HTC Fetch working with any BLE/Android 4.3 enabled Smartphone.
This gave me so much experience with BLE profiles, characteristics and co. so I am searching for some more devs helping me coding an OpenGearManager.
So who is with me?
Regards,
Gamer
Sounds like a great idea hope you get more devs on board
Nope, no work on a OpenSource replacement is going on atm, not in the public anyway.
I´we done some custom Gear apps for the null_ rom but if I´m capable of helping out with this, I don´t know.
I´m sure @fOmey (author of null_) can help out with lot´s of info for the project.
I love the idea !
Pushing notifications to the gear using a open program would be awesome for end users.
Have you checked out M2D ? It would be a great start if you could get the source.
How about an iPhone (Cydia) app that would push notifications to the Gear?
This is the best idea yet. Because of the fact that I'm an idiot I would love to be able to push apps and make other changes via the gear manager. I would think this would open the door for other idiots like myself to get this watch. I am running null 16 but had someone else load it for me. would love to go 22 but don't know how plus I heard you lose settings in touchwiz...a reinvented gear manager would fix this right?
I would like to help, but do not have the time right now. Could it be possible to reverse engineer the proprietary protocols so we can use the apps created for the gear with the open version of gear manager?
I have been looking into this. But there is alot thats way over my head. But i would say its not possible. Not for now anyhow. But anything is possible i guess.
smokestack76 said:
I have been looking into this. But there is alot thats way over my head. But i would say its not possible. Not for now anyhow. But anything is possible i guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't go as far as saying its impossible...
If you have experience in bluetooth communication between devices & JSON requests it may not be as hard as you may think.
It would be a bit of a difficult project tho !
Lets forget about JSON requests for a minute and listen to my theory:
Half of it is done with M2D manager by pacosal, the bluetooth connectivity part anyway... if someone was to code a notification listener for the host phone, we could push the M2D intents to the gear.. simple enough right ?
We then code a listener for the gear to listen for M2D intents, when one of the "notification intents" is received we fire the following intent to show a custom notification.
For a example put this command in adb shell:
Code:
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -n com.samsung.notifications/com.samsung.notifications.NotificationAlertActivity -e title Test
This would give basic notification functionality, its not that difficult to code and it would work across all android devices.
If I was confident enough to code in JAVA, I would take on the project myself although with a lack of time to learn and other ongoing projects it makes it hard... in saying that tho I am more than happy to help anyone who is game to make a start !
One of the gear users created a third party app to send notifications to the gear: ATN
If only he released the source, it would be excellent to get an idea how things work.
I'm all up for that iPhone cydia app! I really want a gear but don't like samsung phones. I'd pay for the app too, if you list it for a price, I'd pay up to $15-$20 for it
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It would be great to have this working, i am currently using ATN Manager and was a pain to get working as you have to find and use a specific version of the app to get the functionality, i posted about it here as well as getting the WatchStyler working on a non-Samsung device (Nexus 5) here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=50550974&postcount=129
However you only get a message that you got a notification for some and not a full message to read, while that works while your phone may be on silent it would be great to have the full functionality like with a Samsung device.
Very excited about this! Hope someone can get it going! I'd be more than happy to test as I am sure is with other!
First of all - Hi everyone! I'm a frequent reader, first time poster.
Now to the point. As soon as I'm done with my masters defense (around next two weeks), I'm starting a project that might help with this idea.
I'm basically going to implement an android service that will provide an abstract interface for communication between any android phone with bluetooth capability (if possible, still some research ahead of me) and Galaxy Gear. I haven't decided yet if interaction will be done by intents or if it would be in form of a library or even raw classes. Still if the project will succeed I'm going to try to build the same abstract interface for Windows Phone devices (no intents here, so propabbly as a library). If it proves possible then same thing will be done with iOS, by a friend of mine.
Assuming this would work, someone would have to reverse engineer the Gear Manager, so if there is anyone that is able to do that I will be happy to cooperate in any way I can.
I'm not promissing anything for now, but let's see how will things go.
Gohanks said:
First of all - Hi everyone! I'm a frequent reader, first time poster.
Now to the point. As soon as I'm done with my masters defense (around next two weeks), I'm starting a project that might help with this idea.
I'm basically going to implement an android service that will provide an abstract interface for communication between any android phone with bluetooth capability (if possible, still some research ahead of me) and Galaxy Gear. I haven't decided yet if interaction will be done by intents or if it would be in form of a library or even raw classes. Still if the project will succeed I'm going to try to build the same abstract interface for Windows Phone devices (no intents here, so propabbly as a library). If it proves possible then same thing will be done with iOS, by a friend of mine.
Assuming this would work, someone would have to reverse engineer the Gear Manager, so if there is anyone that is able to do that I will be happy to cooperate in any way I can.
I'm not promissing anything for now, but let's see how will things go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, looking forward to where this goes!
Hello all,
I have two questions about the watch.
1. I have Xiaomi Redmi note 3. I've read few threads, and I now know that it is possible to connect the watch to any android. device However, is everything working the same as on Samsung phone? Are there any differences, lack of functions?
2. The reason why I want to buy this watch is to make & send picuters. Is it possible to make a picture directly from the watch, and then send/share it to someone via whatsapp, messenger or other messaging app also direclty from the watch, without touching my phone?
Thanks in advance for all the answers.
Takwej said:
Hello all,
I have two questions about the watch.
1. I have Xiaomi Redmi note 3. I've read few threads, and I now know that it is possible to connect the watch to any android. device However, is everything working the same as on Samsung phone? Are there any differences, lack of functions?
2. The reason why I want to buy this watch is to make & send picuters. Is it possible to make a picture directly from the watch, and then send/share it to someone via whatsapp, messenger or other messaging app also direclty from the watch, without touching my phone?
Thanks in advance for all the answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I hope you get it working as I read it works without touchwiz phones .. but I am not sure how..
I know 1 thing for sure - things like "S-Voice" won't work on your phone ^-^ and all the other Samsung stuff
2. Hm ...I always thought about that too as the gear takes good pictures but I came to the conclusion that sending them to my phone and then over WhatsApp is simply better.
I mean you can isn't all WhatsApp on your gear, that's not the problem but you'd need to tether your Internet over Bluetooth and ..your gear will heat top much and..it's not worth it ^-^'
Instead - why don't you download from this thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2680828
"Camera360" and "Mini gallery" , install them on your phone while being connected to your watch and using gear manager.
It should be automatically installed on your watch and all you do now is taking a picture (normal or camera360 ((much better!)) ) go to mini gallery and click there on "share" and send it immediately on your phone ^-^
I hope I could help you ^-^